Receptacle and opening means therefor



May 14, 1963A 'A. R. DANDREA 3,089,609

RECEPTACLE AND OPENING MEANS THEREFOR Filed Jan. 9, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet l .4 IN VEN TOR.

A rra/wey@ May 14, 1963 A. R. D'ANDREA 3,089,609

RECEPTACLE AND OPENING MEANS THEREFOR Filed Jan. 9, 1961 2 sheets-sheet 2 INVENTOR @(9144, ff@ wgybmw `I BY ,JMW

ATTORNEY nite States This invention relates broadly to the class of receptacles and is directed particularly to a new and novel combined receptacle and opening means therefor.

Many liquid, semi-solid or any flowable products, are nowadays marketed or put up for sale in paperboard receptacles which, in many instances, have metal end walls.

Continued efforts are also being made to package such products in receptacles regardless of the type or the miaterial of which they are made, in such a way that the receptacle may be easily and quickly opened.

Some receptacles designed for fuse in marketing dry or non-fluid material have t-he -side Wall portions formed of paperboard and constructed so that the receptacle may be opened by twisting the receptacle and breaking the paperboard wall. While these receptacles lare satisfactory for dry or non-fluid materials, they obviously are not suitable Ifor marketing liquid or semi-solid materials or owable materials. Also, in receptacles having these paperboard side wall bodies, where end walls thereof are of metal construction, the joint between the metal wall and the paperboard side wall is not of such a character as to permit the use of conventional hand oper-ated openers either of the type which are worked around the rim of the can by hand after forcing a cutting element thereof into the end wall, or of the so-called rotary type where a knurled wheel engages the underside of the can rim to turn the can against the cutter. Y

Consequently, where a receptacle having a paperboard body or side wall is designed for the marketing of liquid, semi-solid or owable products, it is desirable that means be provided whereby it may be opened without the risk of spilling any of the contents as would be likely if an attempt were made to use a conventional type of opener thereon.

In view of the foregoing it is a particular object of the present invention to provide a new land improved receptacle and opening means associated therewith wherein such opening means may be manipulated to form a dispensing opening without the use of any conventional type of opener.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a new and novel opening means for `a receptacle wherein the receptacle may be opened merely by the grasping and pulling outward upon a tab forming a part of a wall of the receptacle. p Y It is a still Afurther object of the invention to provide' a new and i-mproved receptacle for merchandising liquid, semi-solid or any flowable products wherein a wall of the receptacle is backed up on the inside by fa frangible sealing sheet lcoverin'g slits or weakened portions of the wall and wherein a portion of such wall is so constructed that when such portion is grasped and pulled outwardly, the frangible sheet lying against the inner surface of the wall will be iautomatically punctured or broken to facilitate removal by tearing, or otherwise, of the sealing sheet.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an opening means of the type described wherein the portion of the receptacle wall having the pull means connected thereto, may be broken or pulled away from a surrounding part of the receptacle body and wherein the frangible backup sheet on the inner side of the wall will also be removed or pulled away with the removed portion' of the wall :so that the contents of the receptacle may be imme-` diately dispensed. n The present invention broadly contemplates the provii tet ECC sion of a receptacle in which there is a wall, such as an end wall where the receptacle may be in the form of a conventional can, which is weakened along a prescribed line defining an area of the wall to .be removed to form the dispensing opening. Such area of the wall is cut to form, or otherwise is provided with, a pull tab having a free end portion and an opposite end portion fixed to or forming a permanent part of the wall and terminating in a cutting point. The inner, or under, side of the said area of the wall which is to be removed from the receptacle, is covered or protected by a thin sheet of frangible material `such as aluminum and this sheet in some instances is adhesively secured to the inner surface of the wall on that area thereof which is to be removed and in other instances is not adhered in any respect to 4the part of the wall to be removed.

In the operation of opening the receptacle the free end of the pull tab is grasped and pulled outwardly and the construction is such that this operation effects the turning of the pointed end of the tab `downwardly or yinwardly whereby the underlying frangible sheet is cut or punctured. The area of the can wall outlined by a weakened border may then be easily torn out and the portion of the frangible sheet lying beneath or against the inner surface of such tarea, if secured thereto, will be likewise removed, thus immediately producing the desired pour opening, or if the frangible sheet is not so secured to the pulled out portion or area of the can wall it will have a starting rbreak or cut made therein which will facilitate the subsequent complete cutting out of the frangible sheet either by a portion of the removed wall or by the employment of some other type of implement.

The area of the can wall which is bordered or defined by the weakened or tear line may constitute the entire end wall of a can or it may form only a segment of such end wall.

The invention will be best understood from a considera tion of the following detailed descrip-tion taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification with the understanding, however, that the invention is not confined to -a strict conformity with the showing of the `drawings but may be changed or modified so long as such changes or modifications mark no material departure from the salient features of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

In the drawings:

FIG. l is a perspective view of a cylindrical receptacle illustrating one embodiment of the invention in which fthe entire end wall is removable with the underlying frangible sheet.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view'on an enlarged scale taken substantially on the line 2`Z of FIG. Il.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the end wall of the re ceptacle showing the pullout portion and tab.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary section taken substantially on.

particularly the manner in which the lfrangible sheet isA punctured.

AFIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating in the operation of opening the receptacle.

FIG. 9 is an exploded view illustrating in perspectiveI the open top of the receptacle and the removed top wall a further` stage portion thereof which carries with it the underlyingv frangible sheet, Y

FIG. is a top plan view of a receptacle showing another embodirnent of the invention wherein a segmental portion of the can wall is removable by the pull tab.

FIG. 11 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 11-#11 of FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 illustrates the primary stage of removing the sector portion by means of the pull tab.

FIG. 13 is a top plan view of a can or like receptacle illustrating a reinforced arrangement of the tab and sector portion to be removed by the tab.

FIG. 14 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 14-14 of FIG. 13.

FIG. 15 is a fragmentary view of a portion of a can side wall and end wall showing another conventional means of effecting a iluid tight sealing between the metal of the end wall and the side wall where the latter is formed of paperboard.

FIG. 16 is a fragmentary view illustrating a portion of a can side wall and end wall where both may be of metal construction and showing the conventional rolled searn for joining the walls together.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the numeral 10 generally designates a receptacle in association with which is illustrated one embodiment of the present invention. While this receptacle is shown as a cylindrical can having circular or disc like end walls, it is to be understood that the invention hereinafter described is not limited to use in connection with a receptacle of this form or configuration but may be associated with receptacles of rectangular form or other cross-sectional design.

In the illustrated structure the receptacle body is generally designated 12 and is shown as having the end closures 14 and 16. Where the receptacle is formed of metal the end closures may be connected with the ends of the body portion 12 by a conventional rolled seam or if the receptacle body should be constructed of a ber such as is employed in connection with the packaging of products such as biscuits or the like, the end walls may be formed of suitable metal and joined to the ends of the body by the conventional pressed seam such as is here illustrated and designated 18.

In carrying out the invention one wall, here designated 14 and illustrated as an end wall of the receptacle, formed of metal, embodies a flat disc like central portion 20 which is joined to the end edge of the body 12 by the illustrated seam which, while shown as a pressed seam, may also be in the form of the rolled or interlocked seam which is conventionally used in all metal can construction. This seam forms the inner ange portion 21 with which the central portion 20 forms the substantially right angle as is clearly shown in FIG. 2.

The entire end wall l14 is stamped or pressed as an integral one-piece unit from a sheet of metal or other suitable material and in the required size to cover the end of the receptacle body and in the pressing operation it is shaped to form the disc like center por-tion encircled by the right angle ilange 21, a portion of which, in the operation of connecting the end wall with the side wall, may be turned or rolled under on the outer side of the side wall and such rolled or turned under portion and the inner part of the flange pressed together to squeeze or grip the end edge of the wall therebetween to form a uid tight joint as indicated at 22. This connection is one of the conventional types of seam which is employed for joining a metal end wall with the edge of a side wall formed of ber or ber composition or paperboard. It will be understood that while the illustration of this seam between the walls suggests that the flange is very thick and accordingly would provide an outside shoulder` against which the drive wheel of a rotary drive type can opener might bear, such apparent thickness results from the necessity of exaggerating the thickness of the folded material for the purpose of clarity, whereas in actual fact the seam wouldY be very thin and flat since the folded together materials are themselves very thin and thus no shoulder of suicient thickness to be engaged by the can opener drive wheel would be obtained. This is particularly true where a paper board can wall is employed.

The dise portion 20 which lies inside of and is encircled by the ange portion 21 is weakened close in the angle or corner formed between the disc and the flange 21, through substantially the entire circumference of the disc, such weakening here being illustrated as being produced or effected by a discontinuous or interrupted slit consisting of portions 23 alternating with uncut or unslit portions 24. As shown the uncut portions 24 are of very small, even minute, extent as compared with the extent of the cut portions 23 so that the disc like central portion 20 is readily torn out or separated from the surrounding flange 21.

While the slit portions 23 follow the curvature of the ange 21 -th-rough the major portion of the circumference of the disclike head portion 20, one of the slit portions, instead of being arcuate, consists of two straight parts 25 which lie between two joining or unslit portions 24 and define an obtuse angle. The two parts 25 of this anguvlated slit intersect in the formation of the obtuse angle to form a cutting point 26.

In Ithis embodiment of the invention thus far described, it will be apparent that the entire disc like portion or head of the receptacle is intended to be removed in the opening of the receptacle. To facilitate such removal the disc like portion 20 is cut or stamped to yform a tab 27 which has a free end edge 2S lying adjacent to the center of the portion 20 and which free end merges into the side edges 29 which extend outwardly toward the periphery of the portion 20 and terminate in the lateral extensions 30. These lateral extensions terminate adjacent to the outer ends of the parts 25 of the angular slit and are also relatively close to the adjacent uncut portions 24 so that the tab is joined to the disc like portion 20 by the side ears 31.

Each of these side ears of the tab is reinforced by a short outpressed rib 32 of the metal which lies between a Ilaterally extending portion 30 of the slit at the attached end of the tab and an unslit connecting portion 24 between the disc portion 20 and the flange 21.

In order to facilitate grasping the tab 27 the latter is longitudinally bowed outwardly or ribbed as at 33 so that, as shown in FIG. 1, a portion of the end edge 28 lies slightly above the top surface of the disclike portion 20. Instead of forming the tab with the rib 33 the free end of the tab may be made to lie in the plane of the portion 20 land the tab may be given a slight arcuate bow outwardly sutiicient to elevate portions of the edges 29 above the top of the portion 20, to facilitate grasping the tab.

The end wall 14 is covered on its inner or under side by a sheet 34 of a frangible material, preferably aluminum foil, although such sheet may consist of a suitable plastic which would be unaffected by the contents of the receptacle and this sheet of frangible material is rolled or folded into the seam 18 as here illustrated, or as shown in FIGS. l5 and 16, to form a tight or hermetic connec tion with the end edge of the receptacle wall.

The fnangible sheet 24 thus completely covers all of the weakened areas or portions here described as slits to prevent leakage of the receptacle contents and -to prevent the entrance of air into the receptacle.

In the assembling of the end wall and frangible sheet 34 when it is desired that the foil Ishall come away with the pull-out disc portion 20, a layer of a suitable adhesive, here designated 35, is applied to the inner surface of the sheet of metal from which the disc portion 20 and the surrounding flange are formed. This adhesive may also be applied to the under side of the pull tab 27 although this is not essential.

In addition to preventing leakage through the weakened portions or slits of the end wall or receptacle or the entrance of air yinto the receptacle where the receptacle may be formed throughout of meta-1 and the end wall joined to the side wall b-y the conventional can rolled seam', the foil liner will reinforce the weakened end wall to Withstand pressure exerted thereagainst `from Within the receptacle.

From the description of the one embodiment of the invention thus `far .given it will be seen upon reference to the several FIGURES 3, 7, 8 and 9, that the tab will function both to cut a portion of the frangible sheet, when the tab is bent outwardly as in FIG. 3 and also facilitate the pulling out of the disc portion 20 of the wall. ln other words in the operation of opening the receptacle the inner end edge 28 of the tab is lifted either by the iingernail or in any suitalble manner and the tab is rocked to the position shown in FIG. 3. This will eiect a torsional twisting of the connecting or hinge portions 31 between the sides of the tab at the attached end thereof so that the portion of the tab adjacent to the rim will be rocked down into the receptacle. This portion which turns down into the receptacle and which is outlined along its free edge by the convergent slits 25 in effect constitutes a puncturing or cutting blade which is generally designated 36.

Following the pulling up of the tab to rock or bend or twist the metal in the hinge .portions 31, a further outward pull on the tab will result in the rupturing nst of the uncu-t or connecting portions 24 immediately adjacent to the hinge portions '31'so that the disc portion 20 will begin to pull out or bend outwardly as illustrated in FIG. 8 and lfurther outward pulling will result in the complete removal of the disclike portion 20 as shown in FIG. 9. While this description of the action of removing the pullout portion 20 would seem to suggest that an appreciable time is taken -in which to complete the removal, actually the action following the raising of the tab 27 can be carried out -in an instant by the application of a quick jerk to the tab.

Since, in the case of the fnangible sheet or foil G4 being lrmly adhered to the -disc portion 20, it will be seen that as the disc portion when pulled will be broken away at the locations 24, the foil or rangible sheet will also be torn along the lower edge of the flange portion 21 so that all of the foil lying beneath the disc portion will corne out with the latter as shown in FIG. 9.

As illustrated in- FIGS. 5 land 7 particularly, the slits 23 are close in the angle between the surface of the ange'Zl and the portion 20. In other words, one side of the sl-it continues upwardly as a part ofthe side ci? the ilange .and thus when the disc portion and the frangible sheet-are torn away no rough edge of metal will be left which would be likely to cause injury to a person handling a receptacle or drinking from it.

FIGS. to 14 illustrate further embodiments of the invention or further Iadaption-s Vof the 'structure whereby the toil and the removed portion of the end wall of the can rnay be extracted together. IIn FIGS. 10, 111 and 12.

. the disc like wall portion of the receptacle is designated 37. lHere a sector of the disc is outline-d tor removal, which sector is designated 38; The radial border lines of the sector are designated 39 and the included arc or curve of the lsector lis designated `fill and it is along these lines 39 and.4il| that the sector is broken away from the disc portion of which it (forms a part. The curved border designated 40 consists of the 4arcuate slits 41 alternating with the unbroken connecting portions y42. The connecting portions attaching lthe sector to the wall flange and the arcuate slits are located close in the angle between the flange, corresponding to the flange Z1, hereinbefore referred to, and the ilat sector portion 38 of the end wall disc.

The lradial borders or lines designated 39 also comprise short slits 43 Ialternating with unbroken connecting portions 44.

The radial borders ofthe sector from the point of their intersection outwardly through a part ofthe length thereof are represented by the relatively long slits 43 which also define the pointed blade portion 44 of the pull tab 45 which is stamped from the metal of this sector portion. As in the previously described construction the sides of the pull ta'b terminate at a point short of the slits 43 leaving the bendable hinge portion 46 sand this hinge portion is reinforce-d by the outpressed rib 47 which, when the pull tab is raised and pulled outwardly, prevents the metal from tearing through into the adjacent slit. With this construction it will be seen that when the tab is pulled upwardly as shown in FIG. 12, the pointed or blade end 44 will swing downwardly `and cut into the underlying frangible sheet or foil body 49. This sheet as in the irst described structure, is disposed aga-inst the under side of the disc portion of the wall rand may be either adhesively secured to the entire inner surtace of this portion or tadhesively secured only to the sector portion 38, the securing adhesive being designated in FIG. 111 by the numeral 50, so Ithat a quick outward pull on the tab 45 will then effect the instantaneous release of the part 38 with the `attached toil. If the rtoil is unattached it will be cut or broken before the sector 38 cornes out, to be subsequently torn or cut out.

FIGS. 13 `and 14 illustrate a reversed larrangement for the pull tab in the removable sector from that shown in FIGS. 10 to 12, the construction being otherwise the sarne.

In this last mentioned arrangement the removable sector is generally designated 511, the same forming a portion of the disc wall 52 of the receptacle rand the radial borders, consisting of the alternating slits 53 and unbroken short portions 54 of the metal, are designated 55. The included arc between the inner ends ci the radiating borders is generally designated 56 'and consists of the short 'arcuate slits 57 alternating with the shorter connecting portions 58. These slits 57, of course, follow the 'arcuate contour of the rim of the receptacle. The pull tab here is generally designated 59 and has its free end adjacent to the center ci the end wall or -adjacent to the converging ends of the border portions 55 of the sector, while the opposite end of the pull tab is `delined by the straight convergent slits 60 which form the cutting point 61 for the pull tab.

.The side edges of the pull tab terminate short of the convergent vedges 60 so as to provide the unbroken hinge portion 62. which is reinforced by the short ribs 63 separating the end portions of the sides of the tab lfrom the convergent blade edge forming sli-ts 60.

It Will be understood, of course, that the inner or under side of the disc portion 52, which includes the sector SI1, is covered by the frangible sheet 64 as in the other constructions, which ifrangible sheet is adhes-ively secured either to the removable sector portion 51 alone or it may be adhesively secured to the entire under surface oi the end wall by the adhesive coating which is generally `designated 65. However, it will be unders-tod that while the attachment of the foil adhesively `as described, is a preferred construction, `the construction whereby. the cutting or rupturing `of the foil is accomplished and the pull-out portion released, when the lfoil is notadhered to the pull-out, is in itself novel.

vFrom the lforegoing description it will be seen that there is provided by the present invention a new and novel receptacle and opening means therefor wherein a complete wall or a portion of a wall, together with an underlying covering or protecting or sealing sheet of frangible material when yadhered to the wall portion, can be punctured and removed in one quick operation or in one movement following the grasping of the pull tab which torms a part of the wall or the portion of the wall which is to be torn laway to for-m the ldesired pour opening. Thus, in the rst described embodiment ofthe invent-ion the removal oct the entire Vdisc portion 20 and the lattached underlying portion of the frangibfle sheet provides the pour opening `generally designated O and which includes the entire area of the end wall of the receptacle while in the subsequently described embodiments shown in FIGS. 10 to 14 the removal I of the sector portion Iand the attached underlying portion of the frangi-ble sheet 49 or 64 provides a pour opening which, in FIG. 12, is generally designated O' and which includes only a portion of the end wall of the receptacle.

FIGS. and 16 illustrate the ways in which the end wal-l of a receptacle carrying a pull-out portion in accordance with the present invention, may be secured with the underlying foil to Ithe side wall of the receptacle.

In FIG. 15 the side wall of the receptacle is ygenerally designated `112 and the end wall or disc portion carrying the pull-out section is designated 120, while the underlying foil is designated 134.

As shown here the foil 134 is bent or folded over the top edge of the side wall 112 as indicated at 135 and the anged edge of the disc portion 120 is also folded over as at 121 and has a small inturned free edge portion 122 which extends upwardly and is in opposed relation with the edge of the folded part or portion 135 of the foil and these folded portions are then compressed tightly to grip the top edge of the wall 112 therebetween. Thus with this arrangement it will be seen that there is no outside shoulder provided by the flanged perimeter of the Ireceptacle wall with which a toothed rotary drive wheel of a rotary type can -opener my engage.

In FIG. 16 the seamed connection between the receptacle end wall portion which carries the pull-out section and the underlying foil are joined with the top edge of the receptacle side wall by a rolled seam such as is commonly employed in the construction of all metal cans. Here the metal side wall of the receptacle is designated 212, while the disc portion of the end wall which is provided with the pull-out section is generally designated 220 and the underlying foil sheet is designated 234.

The seam formed by rolling the peripheral portion of the wall 220 and foil 234 with the side wall 212 is generally designated 218 :and as will be seen, the top edge of the wall 212 is rolled down `as at 219 and the peripheral portions of the wall 220 and frangible sheet 234 are rolled in under the turned down edge portion 219 as indicated at 220 and ,all of the parts are pressed tightly together to form a hermetic seal.

Where the receptacle may be of all metal construction with the `side wall yand end walls joined as shown in FIG. 16, such receptacle may be used for marketing materials under pressure and it will be readily apparent from the preceding description that with such a construction when the pull tab of the pull-out section of the end wall is rocked or pulled upwardly the pointed end of the tab will puncture the underlying foil so that gas pressure within the receptacle will be released and the pull-out portion then may be removed as hereinbefore described `and the foil if `attached to the pull-out portion will come away with the latter portion or if unattached it will be exposed so that it can be cutout.

I claim:

1. In a receptacle, a wall forming a part thereof, means whereby a substantial portion of the wall may be broken away and removed from a fixed part of the wall in one outward movement, a frangible liner sheet -disposed in fixed position against the inner surface of the wall, pull means fixed to the said portion of the wall for facilitating the breaking away of said portion in said outward movement, and means whereby the pull means functions to rupture said liner sheet simultaneously with performance of said outward movement.

2. In a receptacle, a wall forming a part thereof, a frangible sheet disposed against the inner side of the wall, said wall having a removable area defined by a break line, a pull tongue forming `an integral portion of the material of the removable area of the wall and lying in said area, said tongue having two free ends and joined to the wall area between its ends and on opposite sides, one of said free ends being positioned to be grasped to be lifted above the surrounding surface of said area and the other C) CJ free end being actuated downwardly by said lifting to cffect rupture of said sheet.

3. In a receptacle, a wall forming a part thereof, said wall having a break line delineating a pull-out area, said pull-out area of the wall carrying a pull-out tab forming an integral portion of the material of lsaid wall area, said tab having one end to be grasped for facilitating application of an outward pull on the material in the pull-out area, said tab having an opposite end edge forming a part of said break line, portions of the said material on opposite sides of said tab and adjacent to the break line forming bendable hinges whereby the pulling up of said one end will effect the downward movement of said 4opposite end, a sheet of frangible material forming a sealing covering over the inner surface of the pull-out area and the [break line, and said opposite end edge of the tab functioning to rupture said sheet upon said downward movement.

4. The invention according to claim 3, wherein the said opposite end edge has a contour defining a point.

5. The invention according to claim l, wherein the frangible sheet extends beyond the perimeter of the said portion of the wall and is broken by the last said means :along a portion of 4said perimeter.

6. In .a receptacle, a wall forming a part thereof and having a bordering liange, said wall within said flange comprising a body of tiat sheet metal forming an inside angle with the iiange, said body having 4a break line therein consisting of a number of end-to-end slits alternating with solid portions of the metal, said break line defining `a pull-out portion and said slits lying at least in part in said angle, a pull-tab formed from the metal of the pull-out portion, said pull-tab having two free ends with connecting means adjacent to one end between opposite sides and the adjacent portions of the body, the other end of the tab being arranged to tbe grasped for pulling said other end outwardly, a sheet of frangible material positioned 'against the inner side of said body and covering and lsealing said slits, said connecting means being bendable and tortionally twisted to have a hinge function when said other end of the tab is pulled outwardly, and means at said one end of the pull-tab for rupturing said frangible sheet when the pull-tab is pulled outwardly.

7. The invention according to claim 6, wherein means is provided in said connecting means for preventing tearing of the metal across the connecting means from .an edge of the tab to an adjacent slit.

8. The invention according to claim 7, wherein the tear preventing means comprises a reinforcing rib forming -a part of the metal.

9. The invention according to claim 6, wherein the frangible sheet is peripherally secured in said bordering flange.

10. The invention according to claim 6, wherein the said one end of the pull-out tab is defined by two obtusely angled edge portions forming a point and wherein said edge portions form one side of a slit.

11. The invention according to claim 6, wherein the break line follows said angle entirely around the periphery of the body of flat sheet metal whereby the full body may be pulled out.

12. The invention according to claim 6, wherein the said break line defines a segmental portion of the body of flat sheet metal.

13. In a receptacle, a wall forming a part thereof, means whereby a substantial portion of the wall may be broken away and removed from a fixed part of the wall, a frangible liner sheet disposed in fixed position against the inner surface of the wall, pull means fixed to the said portion of the wall for facilitating the breaking away of said portions, and means whereby the pull means functions at the beginning of a pull applied thereto to rupture said liner sheet.

14. In a receptacle, a first wall forming a part thereof and comprising a body of flat sheet metal, a second wall, the rst wall having a periphery joined to the second wall, said body of at sheet metal having a break line therein defining an area of the body constituting a pull-out portion, a section of said pull-out portion having a discontinuous line of incision therethrough defining a major part of an elongate pull tab having one end vfree of the adjacent part of the sheet metal ybody for digital engagement, said pull tab being attached at two opposite locations at its other end by -berldable hinge forming parts of the sheet metal to the adjacent parts of the sheet metal 'body and said hinge forming parts being closely adja cent to the break line, a part of said break line extending between said hinge forming parts and the sheet metal along said parts of the break line forming a sharp terminal edge across the other end of the pull-tab, and a sheet of frangible material secured across and covering the said pull-out portion and said break line, said pull-tab when lifted, bending said hinge parts and turning said sharp terminal edge down through and rupturing the frangible sheet.

15. The invention according to claim 14, wherein the said part of the break line forming the sharp terminal edge is contoured to form said terminal edge in a point.

References Cited in the iile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,092,671 Hildebrandt Sept. 7, 1937 2,772,808 Fried Dec. 4, 1956 2,870,935 Houghtelling Ian. 27, 1959 

1. IN A RECEPTACLE, A WALL FORMING A PART THEREOF, MEANS WHEREBY A SUBSTANTIAL PORTION OF THE WALL MAY BE BROKEN AWAY AND REMOVED FROM A FIXED PART OF THE WALL IN ONE OUTWARD MOVEMENT, A FRANGIBLE LINER SHEET DISPOSED IN FIXED POSITION AGAINST THE INNER SURFACE OF THE WALL, PULL MEANS FIXED TO THE SAID PORTION OF THE WALL FOR FACILITATING THE BREAKING AWAY OF SAID PORTION IN SAID OUTWARD MOVEMENT, AND MEANS WHEREBY THE PULL MEANS FUNCTIONS TO RUPTURE SAID LINER SHEET SIMULTANEOUSLY WITH PERFORMANCE OF SAID OUTWARD MOVEMENT. 